Apple has a long history of assembling iPhones in India, dating back to the iPhone 6S in 2015. However, the launch of the iPhone 15 series in India comes with a unique twist. From the very first day of sale, Apple is exclusively offering “Assembled in India” versions of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. This marks a departure from previous years when “Assembled in China” iPhones dominated the Indian market initially, only to be later replaced by their Indian counterparts. With the iPhone 15 series, it’s clear: it’s either India or China right from the start, and Apple isn’t keeping it a secret.

What’s intriguing about this new development is the discreet engraving of either “India” or “China” inside the USB Type-C port of the iPhone 15 series. To spot this engraving, you’ll need to inspect it under ample light carefully. While Apple has always been transparent about the source country, the placement of the engraving has ignited conversations on social media.

Here’s the breakdown: Apple is solely assembling the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus in India, not the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The latter two models continue to be assembled in China. So, when you purchase the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus, you’ll find “India” engraved inside the USB Type-C port. Conversely, if you opt for the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, you’ll discover “China” inside.

Apple’s choice of location for assembling the iPhone 15 is Foxconn’s manufacturing plant near Chennai. There are currently no plans to shift the assembly of the iPhone 15 Pro models to India. However, one thing remains consistent—the prices. Even with the iPhone 15 series, the prices in India continue to be among the highest globally due to local taxes.

Nevertheless, this year, it might not make much sense for Indians to purchase the iPhone 15 series from the US or UAE. Why? Well, the US models are exclusively equipped with eSIM functionality, and the price differential doesn’t justify the expense of importing them from Dubai or other regions.

For more details on the iPhone 15 series and its unique features, you can visit Apple’s official website here.